By Oliver Lees
Thirty-five houses will be built in Sunbury for those who need it most, as part of the state government’s Big Housing Build.
The state government recently announced the first round of the build, which includes 2352 social housing properties across 89 projects.
Each project will be completed in partnership with a housing provider.
In Sunbury, Community Housing Limited (CHL) will oversee the project.
In total the project will cost $14,650,345 with $11,654,487 coming from Victorian government grants.
Hume mayor Joseph Haweil said “there is certainly a need” for this investment in areas such as Sunbury.
“That’s an area certainly where people are really struggling,” Cr Haweil said.
“We’re always happy to receive funding, and take on more projects. We want to see a bigger commitment from Homes Victoria.”
The Big Housing Build is set to deliver more than 12,000 new homes to boost Victoria’s social housing supply by 10 per cent.
CHL managing director Steve Bevington said the houses would give people greater options for secure living arrangements.
“The average weekly rent in metro and regional Victoria is simply out of reach for low-income earners. Coupled with the economic downfalls from COVID-19, vulnerable community members are suffering more than ever,” Mr Bevington said.
“This has contributed to an increased demand for affordable housing with 51,000 households on the Victorian Housing Register, and 27,500 of those listed for priority access to a home in March this year.”
In November last year, the state government announced $30 million toward affordable housing in the Macedon Ranges.
Last week Macedon Ranges council announced officers will present a new draft affordable housing policy at a meeting in October.
“This is an important piece of work required to understand the extent of affordable housing need in the shire, and to clarify the role that we can play alongside the Victorian government in creating housing to meet that need,” mayor Jennifer Anderson said.
